Konoha Drunkard

"Sell it for money..."

"Snapped!"

"Yes! How come I didn't think of that? Artists only become valuable after they die. I'm a genius!"

"What came to mind again?"

Shanks slammed his hand on the table, startling Haruko.

“Come and look at your second uncle’s handwriting, isn’t it beautiful?” Shanks explained.

"I didn't really feel it before, but now that you mention it, it's really true. I don't know about the ninja world, but I'm sure no one in Konoha writes it as beautifully as this," Haruko-sama agreed after carefully reading it.

"Don't even mention you, nobody noticed this. After all, Uncle's other reputations were too big back then—'Speedy Ninja Disciple,' 'Water God,' 'Old Schemer,' and so on. Why would anyone care about these things? Go and look for any other writings Uncle left behind, and bring Uncle's too, bring them all." Shanks said excitedly. Sure enough, there's something extraordinary in the ordinary; he actually found a way to make money. Heaven really hasn't forsaken me!

"What's the use of looking for those things? I put them all away when the clan's territory was newly built," Lady Haruko asked curiously, seeing him so excited, just like a child.

"Think about it, my second uncle and uncle-in-law are legendary figures of their generation. Do they have a lot of fans? And most of the people who lived through their era are about our age now. They must have considerable wealth. If I add some artistic embellishment, like warding off evil or providing protection, wouldn't those people be willing to pay for it?" Shanks became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had found a golden road.

This is truly a treasure trove that has been guarded for decades without anyone realizing it.

But it's not too late now...

When Haruko-sama found a bunch of writings by Tobirama Senju and Hashirama Senju, Shanks couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. It wasn't because Tobirama Senju's writings were few; in fact, Tobirama Senju had written a lot, and most of them had been preserved.

Furthermore, Hashirama Senju's handwriting was just as bad as his own, or even worse. It was crooked and looked like scribbles. Even Shanks, who was used to his own handwriting, would have to stare at it for a long time before he could guess what it was. Putting aside his own handwriting, no normal person could appreciate it. Aside from his overwhelming strength, Hashirama Senju really didn't have anything particularly outstanding about him.

"Sigh! Uncle's handwriting is too bad, let's put it away. I'd be embarrassed to show it out." Shanks shook his head and told Haruko to put away what Hashirama Senju had "written." If it weren't for the familial bond that had died because of their shared ideals, Shanks would have burned it all.

...........

Good morning, Lord Shanks!

"Did Lord Shanks bring Haku to register? Haku is really... handsome!"

"Haha, yes, he's retired and has nothing to do, so he becomes a leader of children. His clothes are bought by his mother, Chuanxiang."

Early in the morning, Shanks went to pick up Haku to take him to register at the Ninja Academy. Along the way, people kept greeting him. Because he had found a way to make money the night before, he was in a good mood. However, Shanks immediately dismissed the issue of Haku's clothing. Shanks had always thought that Haku's floral shorts were already flashy enough. When Shanks went to pick up Haku this morning, Haku discovered that there were always people more knowledgeable than him.

Minazuki Kawaka bought her son a pink floral kimono as a new outfit... This sense of aesthetics immediately surpasses Shanks's.

Bai was already pretty enough, but she had to dress up like this. Along the way, many five- or six-year-old children followed their parents, secretly glancing at Bai, their faces flushed. She was attractive to both boys and girls!

Shanks already had a feeling that when Bai entered the school, he would receive so many love letters that he wouldn't know what to do with them, and they would come from both boys and girls, which would be terrible.

"Bai, I'll have Garp pick you up this afternoon, and he can take you to buy some clothes while he's at it," Shanks said, patting Bai's head.

"Why? Don't I look good in this outfit? My mother said I look very pretty in it," Bai asked curiously.

"Uh...it is beautiful, but...oh, it's not really appropriate to wear a kimono to school, so I'll have to wear casual clothes instead." Shanks thought for a moment and came up with a reasonable excuse.

..........

"Lord Shanks, is this... your granddaughter?" When Shanks brought Bai to the registration desk, a junior teacher in charge of registration whom he had never seen before looked at Bai and asked hesitantly. Why was hesitant? Everyone in Konoha knew that Shanks only had one grandson, the Nara family's grandson, who was only three years old. But now he had brought a very pretty little girl to register. Usually, when schools start, parents bring their children to register. So the junior teacher was dumbfounded.

"What kind of look is that? Bai is a boy. I'm best friends with his grandfather. His mother is busy, so I brought him to register. You understand?" Shanks gave the extra teacher a knowing look.

"Understood, Lord Shanks, rest assured. It just so happens that Professor Jiuye just finished teaching the graduates last year. His teaching ability is on par with Professor Umino's at the school." Anyone who can get into the school as a teacher must have some sense of observation. The extra teacher instantly understood Shanks's look.

"...Fine, this sake, whatever it is." Shanks was speechless. When did Iruka's dad become the top student at the Ninja Academy, and his teaching ability...? Besides being a babysitter, he really couldn't see anything outstanding about Iruka's dad... He guessed this sake was about the same.

527. Artistic embellishment is very important.

Because of Shanks, Iruka's father didn't die during Kurama's attack on the village as he did in the original story. Instead, he became famous for teaching Garp, the renowned heir, and became the top teacher at the Ninja Academy. Presumably because he was too responsible, he was also very talkative. He was the only teacher Garp never beat up, which further elevated his status at the Ninja Academy, and he was already showing signs of succeeding the retired Kame Saburo.

.........

"Have you heard? An authentic work by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, appeared in the Konoha Bookstore and was just bought by a merchant from the Land of Wind for a high price."

“I was there at the time and saw it with my own eyes. Several great calligraphers were fighting over the original work. In the end, the merchant from the Kingdom of Wind was too rich and bought it.”

"Right? I was there too. I saw it when the bookstore owner took it out. The Second Hokage's handwriting is really beautiful. Mr. Nakamura said that no one in the entire Land of Fire can write such beautiful handwriting. Even Mr. Nakamura himself admits that he is not as good as him."

"What?! Mr. Nakamura is a famous calligrapher, and he admits he's inferior to him?"

"Hmph! You outsiders don't understand, do you? Decades ago, when that bookstore first opened, strange things kept happening there. After arriving, he could only seek help from Tobirama Senju, who was the Hokage at the time. Tobirama wrote a few words for him to hang in the attic, and as a result, the strange things stopped happening. Moreover, his business got better and better. Twenty years ago, when I wanted to buy from him, he refused to sell no matter what. If it weren't for his old age and his son's squandering, he wouldn't have wanted to put it up for sale at all," said a merchant from the Land of Fire who knew the inside story.

"Four countries! What did the Second Hokage write that's so powerful?" A group of foreign businessmen asked in amazement, never expecting that the Second Hokage's words would have such a function.

"It's those four words, 'Upholding righteousness and warding off evil,' and they give me a feeling of awe-inspiring integrity. Alas! It's a pity I didn't bring much money this time, and the bookstore owner urgently needs money to pay off his spendthrift son's debts. Otherwise, I would have bought it no matter what." The merchant from the Land of Fire sighed regretfully.

"Then...where in Konoha can I find any original artifacts of the Second Hokage?"

"Yes, Konoha should still have the Second Hokage's original artifacts, right?"

Whether they were foreign merchants or visiting dignitaries, everyone around looked at this merchant from the Land of Fire. The Naruto world is very superstitious, after all, there are even Shinigami and evil gods, so it's not surprising that there are some other supernatural things. And it's hard not to be tempted when you hear that Tobirama Senju's words can ward off evil.

"...The Second Hokage has been dead for decades, and he didn't leave behind many writings. The only one I know of that has been leaked is the one in the bookstore owner's shop." The merchant from the Land of Fire shook his head.

"Oh! What a pity!"

"Yeah, how come I haven't run into any!"

"Damn it, the people from the Land of Wind actually took advantage of us."

"Ah! I know where it is! Wasn't the Second Hokage from the Senju clan? The Senju clan must still have the Second Hokage's original artifacts!" A young man shouted as if he had just remembered something.

"That's right! How come I didn't think of that! The Senju clan must have them." The merchant from the Land of Fire slapped his forehead and ran towards the Senju clan.

"Quick, chase after them! We can't let him get there first!" The foreign merchants and nobles behind them also realized what was happening and rushed towards the Thousand Hands Clan.

While Shanks was taking Haku to register, several foreign merchants gathered on the streets of Konoha to discuss something, and passersby gathered around to listen, and the number of people grew larger and larger.

Soon after, news spread throughout Konoha that an authentic calligraphy by the Second Hokage had appeared in a Konoha bookstore and had been bought for a high price by a merchant from the Land of Wind. The rumors grew increasingly outrageous, claiming it could ward off evil spirits, bring wealth, and eventually even grant children—that anyone who hung up the Second Hokage's calligraphy would have many offspring. In short, Tobirama Senju's calligraphy became incredibly popular throughout the Land of Fire.

.........

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently at the two calligraphy scrolls in front of him, trying to discern the difference between them. One was written by him, and the other by Tobirama Senju. Why was it that no one wanted his, while someone was willing to pay a high price for his teacher's work, which was also said to have the power to ward off evil spirits?

Unfortunately, after looking at them for a long time, neither piece of calligraphy showed any energy fluctuations. Apart from the fact that his calligraphy wasn't as beautiful as Tobirama Senju's, they seemed to be no different.

“Father, all three advisors have come to see you.” His eldest son, Lvmiao, said from outside the door.

"understood."

After Hiruzen Sarutobi responded, he carefully put away the calligraphy by Tobirama Senju. He used to hang it in his study, but he couldn't anymore. It was safer to hide such a valuable item.

"Sarutobi, do you have any of the teacher's calligraphy? Give me a few pieces. My husband and I are planning to have a child, and we hope the teacher will bless us." As soon as Sarutobi Hiruzen entered the hall, Mitokado Homura spoke directly to him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nearly tripped and fell after hearing his friend's words. "Damn it," he thought, "you and I are both over sixty! You can do it, but I can't! Besides, I only have one painting. Where am I supposed to find a few more for you?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Koharu Utatane and Danzo, and from their eyes he understood the same thing: they were there to ask for the calligraphy.

Xiaochun was asked to transfer to another dormitory on behalf of Zhishui. I hope the teacher will bless Zhishui with safety and that she will have many children in the future.

Danzo was much more practical; he took it back to study and see if he could copy and paste it, so that his roots could be self-sufficient.

None of the three had the teacher's calligraphy. They might have had it before, but they didn't think it was of any use then, so they didn't know where they had lost it. Now they couldn't find it even if they wanted to. But they all thought of Hiruzen Sarutobi, who, as the teacher's most valued disciple, must have it. So they all came to ask their friends for the calligraphy.

"I'm in the same boat as you. I might have had one before, but after so many years, I don't know where it is. I searched for ages just now and couldn't find a single character. The only surviving original works by my teacher are probably some documents written by the archives staff and the Senju clan's." Hiruzen Sarutobi, of course, wouldn't tell the three of them that he also had one. It was his prized possession, and he wouldn't give it to anyone, not even his eldest son.

The documents written by Tobirama Senju himself in the archives certainly cannot be taken out casually. Those important documents are protected by a barrier set up by the Uzumaki clan, and no one except the two Hokage can enter. Moreover, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato would not take them out for such a reason, so this approach is not feasible.

Then the only option left is the Senju clan. However, the three of them turned pale at the thought of Shanks's face. They had just tricked them yesterday, and now they were going to beg them for help.

528. I'm such a good person.

"This one million is your salary for the film. I am also very satisfied with your acting skills. Consider this additional five hundred thousand as a reward for you."

Shanks looked at the actor playing the role of a merchant from the Land of Fire with satisfaction. The Senju clan's gate was now filled with merchants and nobles. Otherwise, if the Uzumaki clan had hurriedly set up a barrier at the gate to stop them, the Senju clan's territory would have been trampled flat.

That's right! The Fire Country merchant who previously garnered so much sympathy from foreign businessmen and high-ranking officials was Shanks's hired shill... well, not exactly a shill. His current profession is an actor, an actor who infuses his life into his acting. Only such actors can convincingly portray any role. Shanks went to great lengths to find this kind of actor. Last night, after figuring out a way to make money, he went to the Konoha Grand Hotel in the middle of the night to stake out the place. He happened to see a middle-aged man with a forlorn expression, who looked like he belonged to a wealthy family, drinking alone. Shanks went over to inquire and learned that his business had failed, his wife had run away with the children, and he was planning to have his last supper before heading to the Hokage Rock to end his life...

As for why he ended his life on Hashirama Senju's head, it's because Hashirama was in the timber business, and he brought timber from the Land of Wind to the Land of Fire to sell...

Upon hearing this, Shanks sighed, lamenting that this man was truly born aimless. What made him think of buying timber from the Land of Wind to sell in the Land of Fire? Didn't he know that the greenery in the Land of Wind was created by Hashirama Senju? With business like this, it's no wonder his wife ran away with their son; there's no hope for them anymore…

But none of that matters. Shanks needs this kind of person. Only someone who has experienced hardship can, given the right path, reach the pinnacle of success. To save a life, Shanks offered him a performance for a million yen. Upon hearing "a million a day," the businessman agreed without hesitation. The reputation of Shanks, the "Red-Haired Shanks of Konoha," wouldn't fool a penniless man like him. So, the two quickly reached an agreement. That very day, Shanks wrote the script and lines, working through the night to finalize them. The actor then began memorizing his lines. While Shanks went to register Haku, the actor began showcasing his acting skills in the village, finally earning his first fortune after his previous failures.

"Thank you, Red-Haired Lord! Thank you, Red-Haired Lord! From now on, you are my second parents. I will never forget your kindness. If you ever need me, I will go through fire and water for you..." The businessman, now an actor, wept bitterly as he received his film fee.

"No, no, no, keep a good mood. You'll run out with this calligraphy later. You should know how to act from now on. Consider this calligraphy a gift for you. You'll need to use your brain more when doing business in the future," Shanks said, patting him on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, Red-Haired Lord, I still remember the lines. I'll go now." The merchant said, then ran out with a masterpiece by Tobirama Senju in hand, looking very excited.

"Ah! I'm such a good person, I just can't bear to see human tragedies," Shanks sighed, watching the merchant's departing figure.

"Haha! I finally got it! I finally got it!" The merchant excitedly ran out of the Senju clan's gate, clutching Tobirama Senju's masterpiece as if it were a treasure.

"How is it? How is it? Look what character it is?"

"Yes, open it and see what word you got."

"Yes, let us see it!"

After the merchant from the Land of Fire ran out, a group of people surrounded him and started talking all at once.

"Don't push, don't push! You can only look, not touch! Look! Seeing how sincere I am, the Red-Haired Lord deliberately picked out a painting for me that even features the Second Hokage. This is the Twelve Hand Seals drawn by the Second Hokage himself! It even has his signature!" the Fire Country merchant said proudly.

"The Second Hokage's handwriting is beautiful! His drawing is also quite good!"

"Yes, the Second Hokage's calligraphy is sharp and powerful, with a hint of fighting spirit. No wonder it made the demons avoid it. Brother, this calligraphy is worth every penny!" A well-known calligrapher in the crowd said enviously.

"Brother, would you like to buy this calligraphy and painting? Just name your price." A man dressed as a nobleman approached the merchant from the Land of Fire and said. Judging from the guards around him, he was no ordinary person. After all, Konoha was the safest place in the ninja world, and high-ranking officials and nobles usually did not bring guards here. The fact that this nobleman had guards around him clearly indicated that his status was different.

"This... esteemed sir, please wait a moment. I bought this calligraphy and painting intending it as a family heirloom; I won't sell it for any price. Lord Shanks just mentioned he's preparing to hold an auction, where he'll be putting some of the Second Hokage's masterpieces up for auction. So please wait." The merchant from the Land of Fire said with difficulty. Although Shanks said that if he received the calligraphy and painting, it would be his, he wouldn't sell it for any amount of money, out of gratitude for Lord Shanks's benevolence.

"puff!"

"Look at this bastard! I had a feeling he was up to something as soon as we got here! He actually dared to put my teacher's calligraphy and paintings up for auction!" Mitomon Homura said with a pained expression after hearing the words of the merchant from the Land of Fire.

To be honest, he wanted those twelve hand seals too, really wanted them. Compared to the poems his teachers wrote in their spare time, these twelve hand seals, the foundation of ninjutsu, were of far greater significance to them as ninjas. Plus, they were his teacher's own handwriting—a true masterpiece. That bastard Shanks actually sold him out to a money-grubbing businessman! He wanted to kill Shanks.

"Sigh...! Who told us not to cherish it before!" Koharu sighed, but she wasn't worried at all, because Haruko was her disciple and Shanks listened to Haruko. She would just go to Haruko later and choose a few of her teacher's masterpieces for her.

Koharu Utatane wasn't worried, but Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo were just as miserable as Homura Mitokado. Their teacher's masterpiece, even the most basic things about ninjutsu like the Twelve Hand Seals, were precisely what made it so representative, and now it was gone. Hiruzen Sarutobi gave his eldest son a look, intending to stop the merchant from the Land of Fire and exchange him for the calligraphy from their house. He wouldn't go for robbery; he wasn't that kind of person, especially since it was in Konoha. Wouldn't that damage Konoha's reputation?

Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi's best friend, had also planned to do the same, but he was even more ruthless. He intended to have his men steal it secretly. However, considering that this merchant from the Land of Fire would become very famous because of this calligraphy and painting, killing him would not be a good thing for Konoha. If the matter were exposed one day, his dream of becoming Hokage would truly be a dream, and even his dream lover would hate him to death. Therefore, Danzo thought about it and decided to hold back.

It's not worth ruining your dreams and the rest of your life for a piece of calligraphy or painting!

529. Second Grandfather ran away.